Calais police review faults chief, city

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CALAIS – The police chief and city were soundly criticized in a review conducted recently by the Maine Chiefs of Police Association.

Chiefs from the Hampden, Freeport and Buxton police departments conducted the review in March.

The three chiefs suggested that the review not be construed as a “report card” on the department because it did not take into consideration all of the “positive” things the department did.

But the city was criticized for a police facility that was marginal at best.

City Manager Linda Pagels, who requested the report, suggested that the intent was not to criticize the Police Department, its practices or those responsible for them. Rather, she said, the review was to be used as a tool for improvement.

Police Chief Michael Milburn was criticized for a leadership style that was top-down and not inclusive.

The chief declined to comment.

The department has eight full-time officers and four full-time dispatchers that serve about 3,500 residents. The review team noted that the department appears to have a very positive image within the community.

But there are problems.

Among those interviewed were current and past employees as well as city officials and area residents.

In the report, some officers said they felt there was a lack of recognition by the chief; outdated polices and procedures; no employee evaluations; lack of consistency, communication, supervision and leadership; poor interagency relations; no part-time employees; and micromanaging.

The report also suggested that the chief and the city manager had a “tenuous” relationship.

“Communication between the two is poor and there is a lack of trust that inhibits a productive working relationship,” the report said.

Among the recommendations:

. That the police chief attend leadership training to hone his skills and create a vision and mission statement for the department.

. That the chief needs to be a participatory member of the city’s management team and develop an employee evaluation process.

“The chief needs to reconnect with the department. He needs to practice the management principle of Management by Walking Around, not only around the station, but also around the community – observing employees performing their duties. The chief needs to publicly recognize employees and show an interest in their personal and professional lives,” the report said. “The chief needs to change his management style from autocratic to one that is more participatory in nature.”

At present, police officers provide their own firearms. “The review panel agrees that this arrangement puts the city in a very serious position should an officer become involved in a shooting,” the study said.

The review panel found that items such as light bars, sirens, security cages and cruiser radios were getting “pretty old.” They recommended the department form a committee composed of officers and supervisors to review equipment needs.

The review panel also recommended that command staff meetings be held with individual officers to review their career goals.

It also recommended that more part-time help be hired.

The city needs to hire a detective, the review panel said, something the chief has requested for years.

“If a detective position is developed, it should free up time for patrol officers to perform other functions within the community. These functions could include community relations, increased traffic and parking enforcement or a wide array of other functions,” the report said.

The report also noted that the department received high marks from the Calais office of the Washington County district attorney. “The DA’s office reported the department has a high level of professionalism, completeness, timeliness and accuracy in their reports,” the panel said.

The review panel criticized the building where the police and dispatchers are housed.

They noted that the area where the dispatchers worked is cramped. “The current configuration is not ergonomic and the area is too small,” the review panel said.

Ventilation is inadequate and noxious fumes from the nearby Fire Department bay is evident when the firetrucks are started. “There is black soot on all equipment and walls of the building,” the report said.

There is no security in place from the public entering the building “and the safety of the dispatchers and officers could be easily compromised,” the three chiefs said.

The review panel suggested more training for dispatchers and recommended that a supervisor be appointed to order supplies, monitor training and assist with schedules.

The panel recommended that dispatchers obtain emergency medical dispatch certification and there be enough money in the budget to allow dispatchers to attend specific classes related to their job performance each year.

The review panel also noted that some of its recommendations could carry a “price tag” for implementation.